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Historical  Discourse. 


A     SERMON 


RELATING  TO  THE 


1 


iHAii   \niii 


OlLiaiC   IIOIUIIIIOI 


OF  NEW  YORK, 


BY 


M.    S.  HUTTON,    S.  T.  D. 


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BX95n 
.5.N5 
W3H9 


1877. 


-0* 


Historical  Discourse. 


A     SERMON 


RELATING  TO  THE 


SI 


•  n    I  hiinohn^ 


OF  NEW  YORK, 


M.   S.  HUTTON,   S.  T.  D. 


NETV    YORK. 

1811. 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THP:  PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  CONSTSTORY  OF 
THE  REFORMED  PROTESTANT  DUTCH  CHURCH  OF  THE 
CITY  OF  NEW  YORK. 


Drcrnihi'v  llh,    iSTTi. 

Hesolved  :  TIkU  (he  Eev.  D]i.  Hutton  he  reqvci^ted,  at.  his 
convenience,  to  prepare  and  deliver  in  one  <,r  more  of  ovr  chiirrhex, 
a  discourse  respecting  the  history  of  his  recent  charqe  in 
Washington  Square,  going  liact  to  the  jirsf  organization  of  the 
Garden  St.  Church  as  a  separate  orgau  hat  ion. 

[EXTRACT   FROM   MINUTES.]  GEO.      S.     STITT 

Clfvk. 


New   J'c)?/',  Miu  7///,  1S77. 
REY.   DR.  HUTTON:  , 

My  Dear  Sir: — /  am  directed  Ijy  our  (:onsi.^l<n-y  to  reijuest 
from  yon,  for  pubticatiov,  a  copy  of  your  historical  sermon  (.n 
the  old  Garden  Street  Church  and  the  Washington  Square  Church, 
recently  delivered. 

Bespectfully   Yours, 

GEO.  S.  STITT, 


HISTORICAL  DISCOURSE. 


Zechakiah,  iv  :  6.  —  "Not  by  might,  nor   by  i)ower 
but  by  my  spirit,  saith  the  Lord." 

The  device  of  the  corporate  seal  of  the  church  on 
Washmgton  Square  is  a  stand,  representing  the  golden 
candlestick  of  the  Jewish  Tabernacle.  Instead,  how- 
ever, of  the  seven  branches,  it  supports  a  bowl  on  the 
rim  of  which  are  seven  lamps.  On  each  side  of  the 
stand  is  a  tree  whose  branches  interlock,  and  over- 
shadow the  bowl.  Underneath  are  the  words  selected 
as  my  text,   "  By  my  spirit,  saith  the  Lord." 

No  words  can  better  describe  this  seal  and  show  its 
import,  than  those  of  the  inspired  record.  "  I  looked," 
—  says  the  prophet,  —  "  and,  behold,  a  candlestick 
all  of  gold,  with  a  bowl  upon  the  top  of  it,  and  his 
seven  lamps  thereon,  and  seven  pipes  to  the  seven 
lamps,  which  are  upon  the  top  thereof:  and  two  olive 
trees  by  it,  one  upon  the  right  side  of  the  bowl,  and 
the  other  upon  the  left  side  thereof."  To  the  ques- 
tion, "  what  are  these  ?  "  the  answer  is,  —  "  this  is  the 
word  of  the  Lord  *  *  saying,  '  Not  by  might,  nor 
by  power,  but  by  my  spirit,  saith  the  Lord.'  " 

The  primary  and  immediate  design  of  the  vision, 
was  to  induce  the  ancient  church  to  rebuild  Jerusalem 
and  the  temple,  which  had  been  destroyed  by  the  Ba- 
bylonians. But,  like  many  of  the  ancient  prophecies, 
its  grandest,  if  not  its  most  important,  fulfilment  is 
found  in   the  Christian  church,  and  was  intended  to 


(3 

point  out  the  true  wuree  of  its  success  and  triumph. 
The  silent  and  gentle  influence  of  divine  grace  was 
sj'inhoHscd  ])y  the  two  oli\'e  ti'ees.  which  wei'c  so 
fruitfid  that,  witliout  any  pressure  of  their  I'ruit.  the 
howl  should  he  su])plied  with  the  needed  oil,  and  the 
lamps  Ik'  tluis  kept  hui-ning  brightly.  Botli  in  its 
piiniary  and  its  moi'e  extended  sense,  therefore,  it  ad- 
mits ofa  sti'ikiiig  application  to  the  success  and  history 
hoth  of  the  (rai'(len  Street  and  the  Washington  Square 
(Miui'ches.  This  is  the  reason  why  I  have  selected 
these  words  as  my  text  on  this  occasion.  For  as  truly 
as  in  the  history  of  the  ellbrt  here  referred  to  by  Ze- 
chai'iah,  so  to  the  same  divine  source  nuist  be  traced 
the  success  and  usefidness  of  these  two  churches.  To 
God  be  all  the  glory  !  It  was  "Not  by  might,  nor  by 
powei",  but  l)y  my  spirit,  saith  the  Lord."" 

Much  might  be  found  in  the  eai'lier  history  of  our 
denomination  in  New  York,  in  illustration  of  the  text, 
ibit,  ;is  the  recpiest  in  compliance  with  which  this  ser- 
mon was  prepared,  refers  only  to  these  two  churches, 
1  would  merely  remark  that  the  first  Grovernor  of  the 
(-'ity  in  l(J2(i  brought  with  him  a  religious  instructor 
and  teach^er.  and  that  during  the  next  sixty-seven 
years,  two  church  eiUhces  had  been  erected  by  the 
(*ivil  authorities  on  the  lower  end  of  the  island.  But 
ill  1  (i'.K)  the  popuhition  hail  so  increased,  that  more 
<*inn-('li  acconunodation  was  dt.'sirable.  and  at  that  date 
(harden  Street  (-hurch  lii'st  ai)})('ai's.  It  was  resolved 
by  the  jjcople^  to  erect  a  buihhng  in  what  was  then 
known  as  (xarden  Alley,  —  afterwards  (larden  Sti'eet, 
—  and  now  calliMl  l<]xcha,nge  Phice.  This  location  was 
objected  to  hy  some,  as  being  too  far  out  of  town.  The 
chui'cdi  an<l  eemetery  occu})ied  the  centre  oi"  the  bloek, 
on  the  noilh  side  of  llie  way,  between  William  and 
Iboad   Streets.      The   building  was  octagonal,  with  a 


tower,  or  steeple,  in  the  centre  of  the  roof.  In  1776 
the  edifice  was  enlarged  and  repaired. 

In  the  mean  time,  however,  the  city  had  continued 
to  grow  rapidly,  —  as  it  has  ever  done,  —  and  in 
1729  another  house  of  worship  was  erected,  on  the 
corner  of  Nassau  and  Cedar  Streets,  and  called  for  the 
time  the  "  New  "  Church.  This  is  still  standing,  and 
has  been  known  to  the  present  generation  as  the  Post- 
Office.  On  the  2nd  of  July,  1767,  the  corner-stone 
of  a  third  church  was  laid,  on  the  corner  of  Fulton 
and  Wilham  Streets,  and  styled  the  "North''  Dutch 
Church,  In  consequence  of  this,  the  name  of  the 
"New  "  Church  was  changed  to  the  "Middle  "'  Dutch 
Cluirch,  and  the  Garden  Street  Church  received  the 
title  of  the  "  South ''  Dutch  Church,  —  a  name  which 
it  still  retains,  although  it  has  taken  two  great  leaps: 
first  to  the  corner  of  Church  and  Murray  Streets,  and 
then  to  the  corner  of  Twenty-First  Street  and  Fifth 
Avenue,  where  it  still  stands. 

This  growtli  of  the  city,  and  the  erection  of  two 
other  churches,  naturally  lessened  the  attendance  on 
the  ministrations  at  the  South  Church  in  Garden 
Street.  It  is  said  that  the  last  sermon  ever  preached 
in  it,  was  delivered  to  fourteen  hearers.  It  was  con- 
sequently closed  for  some  time.  But  the  ground  upon 
which  it  stood  had  been  consecrated  to  church  pur- 
poses, and  was  considered  too  sacred  to  be  finally  given 
up  to  secular  uses.  It  was  also  supposed,  that  if  a 
more  attractive  building  were  erected,  it  would  again 
be  filled,  and  therefore  the  venerable  fathers  of  the 
Consistory  decided  that  a  church  must  remain  where 
a  church  had  always  been.  Accordingly,  in  1807  it 
was  taken  down  and  rebuilt.  The  new  building  was 
sixty-six  feet  long,  and  fifty  feet  wide,  with  a  circular 
end.     It  remained,  for  a  short  time,  one  of  the  Colle- 


8 

giate  churches,  but  the  Coiusistory  were  much  disap- 
pointed in  the  result.  When  the  pews  were  offered 
for  sale  there  were  only  sixty  purchased,  and  it  was 
soon  perceived  that  the  church  was  actually  too  far 
down  town.  Even  those  who  were  most  strenuous 
to  have  it  rebuilt,  had  their  pews  in  the  Middle  and 
Nortli  Cliurches,  and  asked  wliy  they  should  go  to  the 
South  Church,  where  they  had  the  same  ministers  as 
in  the  others.  Consequently  the  question  began  to 
be  mooted,  whether  an  independent  church,  with  its 
own  individual  pastor,  would  not  be  more  successful 
and  profitable,  than  to  continue  under  the  Collegiate 
charge. 

But  the  first  actual  record  of  this  movement,  is  found 
in  the  minutes  of  January  2d,  1812.  There  it  is  stated 
that  a  petition,  or  memorial,  subscribed  by  seventy- 
four  persons,  was  presented  and  read,  praying  for  a 
separation  of  the  South  Church  from  the  other  chur- 
ches. The  question  was  then  put—  "are  there  any 
terms,  on  wliicli  Consistory  will  consent  to  separate  the 
South  Churcli  from  the  others  ?  " 

This  was  answered  in  the  affirmative.  Dr.  Wilson, 
and  M  essrs.  Kip  and  Heyer  were  appointed  a  committee, 
to  meet  Messrs.  Thomas  Storm,  Henry  I.  Wyckoff  and 
Abraham  Brinckerhoff,  on  the  part  of  the  memorial- 
ists, to  consider  the  subject.  The  two  committees  acted 
with  great  promptness,  and,  on  the  24th  of  that  same 
month,  —  the  great  Consistory  assenting,  —  it  was 
"  Resoloed:  —  that  the  Cliurcli  oi'  Garden  Street  and 
the  grounds  adjoining,  witlia.Clnu-cli-Bondfor$15, 355, 
tlie  amount  of  tlie  late  sale  of  pews,  — be  transferred 
to  the  new  organization,  conditioned  on  a  lease  of  999 
years."  Application  was  immediately  made  to  Classis 
for  their  assent,  and  on  the  18th  of  February,  1812, 
the  separation  was  confirmed  by  the  Classis,  and   tlie 


Rev.  Dr.  Kuypeks  was  appointed  to  ordain  elders  and 
deacons  in  the  new  organization. 

The  church  was  accordingly  organized.  But  there 
was  great  diversity  of  opinon  respecting  the  choice  of 
a  pastor,  it  heing  understood  that  they  should  not  call 
any  of  the  then  Collegiate  ministers.  Unable  to  agree 
on  any  one,  and  finding  it  difficult  to  obtain  supplies 
for  the  pul})it,  the  Consistory  applied  to  the  llev.  Dv. 
James  M.  Matthews,  then  an  assistant  of  Dr.  John 
Mason  in  the  theologii^al  seminary  of  the  Scotch  Pres- 
byterian Church,  and  engaged  him  to  preach  for  them 
once  on  each  Lord's  day,  until  they  could  select  a 
pnstor.  "  Neither  of  us,"  —  remarks  Dr.  Matthews, 
—  '■  had  then  the  remotest  idea  of  my  settlement 
among  them  ;is  n  pastor."  But  he  who  says,  "Not  by 
might,  nor  by  power,  but  by  my  spirit,"  had  the  end 
in  view. 

Men  or[)iety,  intelligence  and  wealth  "were  induced 
to  fiivor  tlie  new  effort.  A  strong  attachment  wns  soon 
formed  between  them  and  the  preacher,  and  in  July, 
1813,  Dr.  Mattheavs  had  consented  to  serve  them, 
and  was  installed  as  pastor.,  Thus  the  enterprise  was 
fnii'ly  launched. 

In  a  semi-centennial  discourse  preached  by  Dr. 
Matthews  in  1857,  he  says,  "When  I  was  called  to 
take  charge  of  the  church,  there  were  but  nineteen 
families  to  be  considered  as  l)elonging  to  it ;  and  at 
our  lirst  conuiuuiion,  the  members  who  sat  down  :it 
the  Lord's  table,  with  the  elders  and  deacons,  all  told, 
amounted  to  seventeen  in  number.  With  such  small 
beginnings,  did  we  engage  in  the  work  of  building 
u})  what  liad  been  for  years  a  waste  place  in  Zion." 
"  The  success, ''  —  he  adds,  —  "  was  far  beyond  our 
deserts.  Notwithstanding  the  unfiivoral)le  circum- 
stances of   its    location,   the   church  was  soon   filled 


10 

with  a  strong  congregation.  Members  attached  tliem- 
selves  to  it,  liaving  large  means  and  large  hearts, 
soon  putting  its  temporal  welfare  beyond  the  reach 
of  peradventure.''  "  But  the  chief  glory  of  the  church," 
—  he  goes  on  to  say,  —  "  lay  in  its  spiritual  prosper- 
ity. If  the  members  were  few  in  the  beginning,  it  was 
a  spark  of  the  right  fire  that  dwelt  within  them; —  it 
was  a  coal  from  the  altar  above.'' 

This  testimony  I  am  able  to  corroborate.  It  is  at 
this  point  that  my  personal  knowledge  of  the  church 
commences.  Although  I  was  a  lad  of  onl}-  ten  years 
of  age,  I  recall  with  great  vividness  the  deep  interest, 
pride  and  love,  with  which  we  were  wont  to  i-egard 
the  church  and  its  loved  and  popular  pastor.  In  our 
estimation  there  was  no  superior  in  the  pulpit,  or  in 
the  parlor,  to  Dr.  Matthews.  And  the  men  who  were 
grouped  around  him  commanded  o\u"  warmest  love. — 
They  were  truly  helpers  in  the  good  cause.  Two  of 
the  elders  aided  him  every  week  in  catechising.  Every 
Saturday  evening  there  was  held  what  was  called  the 
"  Elders'  Prayer-Meeting.''  It  was  a  kind  of  ]»ible- 
class,  —  very  pleasant  and  very  profitable.  It  was 
at  one  of  these  meetings  that  I  offered  my  first  public 
prayer ;  and  I  am  not  certain  that  the  infiuence  of 
these  meetings  had  not  something  to  do  in  leading  me 
into  the  Gosi)el  ministry;  tlu^y  certaiidy  had  much  to 
do  in  cultivating  the  zeal,  piety  and  activity  of  the 
church.  Dr.  Matthews  possessed  large  views  of  Chris- 
tian union  and  enterprise,  and  was  in  the  foremost 
rank  as  an  advocate  of  tlie  religious  efforts ,  which  at 
this  time  were  awakened  in  the  churches. 

And  his  influence  was  felt,  and  responded  to  l)y  his 
attached  peo})le.  The  most  perfect  harmon}'  and 
union  pervaded  the  whole  church,  and  the  contiiuicd 
presence  and  blessing  of  tlie  Holy  Si)irit,  was  enjoyed 


11 

to  i\ui  very  last.  This  was  seen  in  the  large  c()iitril)U- 
tiouH  to  benevolent  purposes,  in  the  steady  ingathering 
of  the  young  into  the  church,  and  in  the  unity  of  the 
people,  which  was  so  marked  that  it  might  have  been 
said  of  them  as  of  old,  "  Behold,  how  these  brt^thren 
love  one  another  !"  The  church  shared  largely  hi  the 
general  revival  of  religion,  which  spread  through  many 
of  the  churches  of  our  city  in  1831,  and  during  that 
happy  season,  "  aged  members  of  the  congregation," 

—  says  Dr.  Matthews  in  the  sermon  already  alkided 
to,  —  "  who  had  reached  their  three  score  and  even 
three  score  and  ten,  were  made  subjects  of  the  gracious 
work.  But  the  harvest  was  chiefly  among  the  young  ; 
and  so  profusely  was  the  spirit  poui'ed  out,  that,  in 
several  instances,  every  son  and  daughter  in  whole 
liouseholds,  came  forward,  and  publicly  professed  the 
name  of  tlie  Saviour."  Atone  single  communion  there 
was  an  addition  to  the  church  of  eighty  persons;  and 
at  the  communion  following,  forty  were  added. 

It  was  only  two  years  after  this  great  ingathering 
that  my  connection   with  the  church,  as  an  associate 
pastor,  commenced.      In  183,4,  Dr.  Matthews  having      |    4/; 
become  the  chancellor  of  the  University  of  New  York,      ' 

—  into  the  establishment  of  which  institution,  and  the 
erection  of  its  noble  l)uilding.  he  had  thrown  himself 
with  all  his  energy,  and  with  his  whole  soul,  —  it  be- 
came imperative  that  ho  should  have  an  assistant,  if 
he  retained  the  pastorate  of  the  church.  1  was  accor- 
dingly called  to  this  office.  It  was  an  honor  unsought, 
and  most  unexpected,  by  me.  To  my  mind,  it  was  the 
highest,  the  noblest,  the  most  desirable  position  which 
the  great  head  of  the  church  could  bestow  upon  me. 
I  had  been  asking  him  to  direct  my  steps,  and  with- 
out a  movement  of  my  own  in  that  direction,  I  received, 
a  few  days  after,    a  unanimous  call   to   the   church 


12 

of  my  lUtlicr,  ami  ul'  my  boyish  atUiclimciil.  It  was 
witli  devout  sentiments  of  wonder  and  oi'atilude  and 
love,  that  1  found  myselfconneeted  asCln'ist's  minister, 
with  my  most  loved  and  honored  pastor,  and  saw  my- 
self surrounded  and  sustained  by  the  venerable  elders, 
to  some  of  whom  1  had,  in  my  early  days,  recited  the 
Heidelberg  catechism.  You  will  |)aiMl(»n  me  for  thus 
speaking  of  myself. 

But  a  storm  of  desolating  fury  from  a  clear  heaven 
bi'oke  upon  us,  sweei)ijig  away  in  a,  single  night  our 
church-building  with  all  its  hallowed  associations.  I 
allude  to  the  great  lire  of  1885.  About  nine  o'clock 
in  the  evening  of  the  sixteenth  day  of  Decend)er,  with 
the  tliei-momcter  three  degrees  below  zero,  we  wei'e 
startled  by  the  ringing  of  the  bells,  and  the  cry  of 
lii-e.  The  alarm  continuing  to  sound  so  long,  and  the 
light  in  the  heavens  inci'easing,  1  was  induced  to  go 
out  to  witness  the  scene.  I  retiuMied  after  midnight 
with  a  solemn  and  saddened  heart,  —  the  cliurch  in 
ashes ! 

I,  with  the  chief  engineer  of  the  Fire  Depaitment, 
had  climbed  into  the  steeple  of  the  church,  where  I'oi- 
some  two  hours  we  watched  the  radiant  lire-sheet  I'a})- 
idly  advainmig,  even  against  the  wind,  to  enclose  the 
church  in  its  terrible  folds.  So  intense  was  niy  ex- 
citement, that  1  was  unconscious  of  the  cold,  and  was 
only  aroused  to  it  by  the  remai'k  of  the  engineei'. 
■'We  had  better  descend  ;  the  church  is  already  on 
lii-e."  l)i-.  Matthews  and  myself  then  took  our  stand 
on  the  slej»s  of  a  house  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
street,  unable  to  draw  oui'selves  a-wny  IVom  the  loved 
building.  VVe  stood  silent,  with  oui'  eyes  lixed  upon 
the  pulpit.  At  hist  he  exclaimed,  "there  goes  the 
pulpit  !''      We  1urne(l  and  left  the  scuMie. 

'i'lie  incident  of  the  j)astoi's  looking  at  the  burning 


13 

pulpit  in  that  hour,  and  then  turning  sadly  away,  re- 
minds me  of  two  other  incidents  of  similar  character. 
Our  organist  entered  the  building  wlien  almost  all  others 
had  deserted  it,  and  the  organ  ceased  not  to  utter  its  wail, 
until  the  lire  commenced  dropphigfrom  the  ceiling;  and 
the  sexton,  until  the  fire  cut  off  the  rope,  ceased  not  to 
ring  with  a  wild  ring,  the  hell,  which  sounded  as  if 
struggling  in  its  last  agony;  but  the  agony  was  in  our 
hearts.  Nothing  was  left  of  the  scene  of  our  labors 
and  enjoynient,  but  the  blackened  and  crund)ling 
walls.* 

This  cahiniity,  which  rendered  our  church,  and  a 
large  districtof  our  city,  an  utter  ruin,  at  once  brought 
u})  the  important  (picstion, — where  ought  the  churcli 
to  be  rebuilt?  No  one  for  a  single  moment  thought  ol 
rebuilding  it  on  that  s})ot,  sacred  as  we  felt  it  to  be. 
Before  the  fire,  it  had  l)ecome  surrounded  by  lofty 
stoi'e-houses,  and  very  few  dwelling  houses  were  to  be 
found  south  of  Wall  St.  and  east  of  Broad  St.  Al- 
though we  held  the  property,  as  has  been  noticed,  by 
a  lease  for  999  years,  yet  it  was. a  lease  not  a  deed. 
We,  of  course,  could  not  dispose  of  the  ground  with- 
out tlie  consent  of  the  Collegiate  Chiu-ch.     This  con- 

*  It  is  pleasant,  however,  to  be  able  to  state  that  there  remains  one 
tovichiug  and  solitary  memorial  of  this  interesting  church  edihce. 
When  this  sermon  was  delivered,  in  the  29th  and  iHth  St.  Churches,  on 
the  table  in  front  of  the  pulpit,  stood  a  glass  shade,  covering  a  brass  ball. 
In  reference  to  this  ball  was  received  the  following  note  from  a  venerable 
elder  of  the  Collegiate  Church. 

"This  ball  was  picked  up  by  Mr.  Sylvanus  S.  Ward  in  Garden  St.,  im- 
mediately after  the  fall  of  the  steeple,  so  hot  that  it  was  handled  with  dif- 
ticulty.  He  had  the  following  words  engraved  on  it:  'The  upper  ball, 
from  the  steeple  of  the  Garden  St.  Churcli,  burnt  in  the  great  contlagra- 
tion  at  New  York,  on  the  Kjth  and  17th  of  December,  1835,  in  which 
were  destroyed  tiSU  buildings,  and  $'20,00U,U00  of  property. 

'A  few  years  after,  it  was  presented  to  me,  and  I  had  it  mounted  as  at 
present.     James  Andekson,  M.  D.  '  " 

It  has  fallen  into  good  hands.  For  if  there  is  a  true  lover  of  the  Dutch 
Church,  it  is  our  esteemed  antl  honored  Elder,  Dr.  James  Anderson. 


14 

sent,  after  «cvcrul  phiiis  ami  propoyitious  had  been  re- 
jectuil,  was  at  last  obtained  on  eonditioii  of  our  paying 
into  their  treasury  $02,000 — a  measure,  which  we,  at 
tlie  time,  thought  was  very  hard,  but  which,  as  I  look 
back  now,  I  have  no  doubt  actually  saved  from  hnan- 
riul  ruin  both  the  cnter[)rises  which  resulted  from  the 
lire, — (jrod,  by  his  spirit,  over-ruling  and  guiding  the 
whole  matter. 

The  property  being  thus  placed  in  our  hands,  it  was 
found  that  we  were  not  of  one  mind  on  the  question 
of  where  the  church  should  be  rebuilt.  This  diversity 
of  opinion  eventually  resulted  in  our  dividing  into  two 
bands,  botli  of  which  have  been  blessed  of  God,  The 
old  Garden  Street  Church  built,  temporarily,  on  the 
corner  of  Church  and  Murray  Streets,  whence  it  re- 
moved to  Fifth  Avenue  and  Twenty-First  Street,  and 
is  still  flourishing  as  the  garden  of  the  Lord,  under 
the  care  of  Dr.  E.  P.  Rogers,  and  still  rejoicing  in  her 
old  title— "  The  South  Dutch  Church."  Her  loved 
title  will,  ere  long,  become  no  misnomer.  She  is  al- 
ready almost  the,  furthest  south  of  the  Reformed 
churches  in  the  city. 

The  other  band  deemed  it  wiser  to  go  at  once  to  the 
upper  part  of  the  city.  They  selected  a  location  on 
Washington  Square,  and  re(|uested  the  pastors — who 
had  been  allowed  to  choose  to  which  of  the  bands  they 
would  contiiuie  attached,  and  who  preferred  the  up- 
town movement, — to  commence  divine  services  in  the 
small  chapel  of  the  Univei'sity.  Although  the  pastors 
still  retained  their  connections  with  the  South  Dutch 
Church,  who,  at  this  time,  were  regularly  worshiping 
in  the  chapel  of  the  brick  Presbyteiian  Church,  on  the 
east  side  of  the  City  Hall  Park,  and  at  the  junction  of 
Park  Row  and  Nassau  Street,  yet,  in  accordance  with 
the  above  request,  they  connnenced  an  evening  service 


15 

ill  the  small  chapel  of  the  University,  in  February, 
1837.  On  the  30th  of  April,  in  that  year,  they  or- 
ganized the  church  on  Washington  Square,  by  the  in- 
stallation of  Thomas  Boyd,  M.  D..  and  0.  Holmes  as  el- 
ders, and  Henry  Roosevelt  and  Edward  L.  Matthews 
as  deacons,  and  received  into  the  conimimion  of  the 
church  forty-nine  members.  It  was  not,  however,  "j  j\r  \  '■ 
until  the  16th  of  November,  1837,  that  the  connection  ! 
of  the  pastors  witli  the  South  Church  ceased,  and  they 
became  the  regular  pastors  of  the  new  church. 

During  the  following  three  years,  while  worshiping 
in  the  chapel  of  the  ITniversity,  the  membersliip  had 
increased  from  forty-nine  to  one  hundred  and  fifty-nine 
and  the  crowded  state  of  the  chapel  made  us  anxious 
to  obtain  a  larger  place  of  worship.  It  was  impossible 
for  us  to  increase  in  tlie  situation  we  then  occupied. 
There  were,  however,  difficulties  in  our  wa3\  The 
ground  on  the  corner  of  Washington  Square  and 
Washington  Place  had  been  purchased  ;  but  there 
were  on  it  two  or  three  tenements,  which  had  been 
leased  to  persons  who  felt  that  the  church  was  in  their 
power,  and  therefore  demanded  large  sums  to  vacate 
the  ground.  One  evening  the  Consistory  had  met  in 
the  council-room  of  the  University,  which  overlooked 
the  ground  selected  for  the  church,  and  the  question 
was  agitated,  whether  we  had  not  better  pay  all  that 
was  demanded,  rather  than  delay  for  an  hour  the  erec- 
tion of  the  building.  Before  a  conclusion  was  reached, 
there  was  a  cr}^  of  "fire,"  and  Mr.  Roosevelt  raised 
the  window  to  ascertain  whence  the  alarm  pi'oceeded. 
As  he  did  so,  he  turned  and  said  to  us,  "Brethren !  God 
has  decided  the  question  for  us.'"  The  tenements  were 
in  flames. 

Arrangements  to  build  were  at  once  made,  and  we 
were  allowed  to  dedicate  our  new  house  in  September, 


10 

1840.  Tlw  oTound  on  wliicli  it  was  orectod,  cost 
$44,000,  and  the;  contract  cost  of  the  l»nilding  was 
$67,000. 

Wlicn  it  is  considered  that  llie  cliiiicli  liad  no  I'cady 
money,  her  receipts  from  tlie  rental  ol'  tlie  chapel 
onl}'  paying  the  rent  of  tliat  bnildiiig,  it  will  be  at  once 
seen  that  we  entered  onr  new  church  overwhelmed 
with  debt,  and  sun'oundcd  with  dilhculties.  W(^  en- 
tered, in  fact,  with  but  one  earthly  hope  for  our  ex- 
tricaticm  ;  and  that  was  the  sale  of  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  pews,  to  meet  our  most  pressing  lial>iHti<'s.  In 
this  hope  we  were  disappointed;  and  then  there  com- 
menced a  struggle  foi'  existence,  which  none  save  those 
who  passed  through  it  can  conceive.  Having  had  no 
income  during  the  three  preceding  years,  save  what 
merely  sulficed  to  pay  the  rent  of  the  chajiel.  and  all 
that  we  could  raise  on  tlie  propei'ty  in  Exchange  Place 
being  needed  to  erect  stores  thereon,  and  to  deCray 
the  necessary  yearly  expenses  of  the  (^hurch  while  the 
edihce  was  being  built,  we  could  maintain  the  sti'uggle 
for  two  years  only.  On  the  Kith  of  Aj)ril,  4842,  at 
a  joint  meeting  of  the  Consistory  and  a  committee  of 
the  congregation,  it  was  unanimously  resolved, — 
"  that  the  Consistory  be  advised  to  take  asearly  meas- 
ures for  the  sale  of  the  church,  and  of  the  entire 
pro])i'rty,  as  may  be  consistent  with  the  interests  of 
all  concerned." 

Tn  accordance  with  this  i-esolution.  (4forts  were 
made  to  dispose  of  the  chui'(4i  edific*',  but  without 
;i\';i,il.  hi  the  interim,  suits  had  l)een  commenced  on 
some  ol"  our  un])aid  chui'cli  bonds,  and  on  the  (>\'en- 
ing  of  May  30th,  1842,  it  was  deci(l(Ml  to  make  an 
assignment  of  the  whole  property,  Ibi-  the  benefit  of 
the  ci'cditors.  This  was  the  only  lionorable  course, 
and  it  was    neccssar}^  to   prevent  a   judgment    which 


17 

would  have  been  an  injury  to  other  bond-holders. 
It  was  accordingly  done,  and,  m  July,  the  pastors 
were  requested  to  unite  in  an  application  to  Classis 
for  a  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  tie.  I  at  once  com- 
plied with  the  request,  and  my  relation  with  the  loved 
Church  was  sundered.  In  November  following,  the 
consent  of  the  senior  pastor  having  been  obtained,  his 
connection  with  the  Church  ceased  also.  In  the  mean 
time  the  church  property  was  put  up  at  auction,  and 
the  stores  in  Exchange  Place  were  sold.  But  the  sale 
of  the  church  edifice  was  postponed,  partly  to  keep  it 
out  of  the  hands  of  the  Roman  Catholics, — who  were 
said  to  be  ready  to  buy  it, — and  partly  from  the  hope 
that  the  church  might  yet  be  saved  to  the  denomina- 
tion, through  the  aid  of  the  Collegiate  Church,  hith- 
erto denied.  The  sum  realized  from  the  sale  of  the 
stores,  was  only  $5000  over  the  amount  of  the  mort- 
gages which  covered  them,  thus  giving  but  slight 
relief,  as  the  amount  due  on  the  property,  was  a  debt 
of  $35,000,  and  a  mortgage  of  $44,000 — making  in 
all  $70,000. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  property  was  placed 
in  the  liands  of  assignees  in  the  month  of  May.  In 
Septenibei"  following,  certain  individual  members  of 
the  congregation  hired  the  churcli  of  the  assignees, 
and  applied  to  me,  promising  that  if  I  would  preach 
for  them,  they  would  make  another  effort  to  save  the 
church.  I  felt  bound  to  comply  with  their  wishes  and 
further  the  ellort,  and  in  February  1843,  the  aid  hoped 
for  from  the  Collegiate  Church  was  given.  It  will  be 
recollected  that  tlie  debt,  for  which  the  churcli  was 
immediately  responsible,  was  $35,000.  The  Collegiate 
Consistory  promised  to  give  us  their  bonds  for  one-half 
of  this  sum, — $17,500 — on  condition  of  our  raising  the 
other   half.     This  was   done,  and   the  church  saved  ; 


18 

and  on  the  14tli  of  April  18-43,  I  was,  for  the  third 
time,  installed  as  a  pastor  over  my  beloved  people, 
dearer  to  me  than  ever,  on  account  of  the  troubles 
vvhicli  we  had  borne  together. 

Fi'oni  that  hour  a  l)right  lieaven  was  over  us,  and  a 
rich  blessing  upon  us.  Our  churcli  moi'c  than  filled  ; 
there  was  a  list,  at  one  time,  of  eighty  apjdicants  for 
pews,  waiting  for  their  turn.  Tlie  social  position  of  the 
people  was  such  as  was  surpassed  by  no  church  in  the 
city,  and  the  preached  word  was  unceasingly  accompa- 
nied by  the  Holy  Spirit.  The  Sunday-School  was  al- 
ways a  flourishing  part  of  the  organization,  and  became, 
tnider  the  superintendence  of  Mr.  Ralph  Wells,  a 
model  scliool  ;  while  the  churcli,  for  its  contributions 
to  the  American  Sunday-School  Union,  was,  for  some 
years,  called,  "The  Banner  Church.'' 

While  thus  on  the  top  of  the  wave,  it  was  deter- 
mined to  nuike  an  effort  to  reduce  the  mortgage  of 
$44,000,  still  remaining,  it  will  be  remembered,  upon 
the  ground.  It  resulted  in  reducing  the  debt  to 
$j53,000,  which  sum,  it  was  supposed,  we  could  easily 
carry.  But  in  1857,  the  rapid  emigration  of  the 
wealthy  families  among  us,  to  the  upper  portion  of  our 
ever  growing  city,  made  it  evident  that  it  became  us 
to  nuike  another  effort  to  reuiove  the  entire  debt. 
The  pews  on  the  ground-floor  of  the  church,  were  still 
all  lilled  and  in  denuind.  But  a  large  ])oi'tion  of  the 
wealth  which  had  been  among  us,  had  passed  on  to 
the  more  fashionable  parts  of  the  city,  and  it  was  felt 
that  some  extei'nal  aid  would  be  necessary.  In  these 
circumstances,  recalling  the  fact  that  we  had  paid  into 
the  Collegiate  Treasury  $31,000,  and  that  the  Consis- 
tory had  kindly  put  us  on  our  feet,  by  a  former  gi'aiit 
in  our  necessity,  we  felt  that  we  must  begin  by  asking 
tli(!ir  further  aid.     An  application  was  therefore  made 


10 

at  their  meeting  in  June  1857.  Help  IVoni  on  Higli 
was  sought;  we  knew  that  it  was  "  not  by  might,  nor 
by  powei',"  but  by  the  8])irit  of  God  alone,  that  we 
could  succeed.     All  was  left  in  his  hands. 

Early  the  next  morning,  I  received  from  my  now 
sainted  friend  andl)rothei\  Dr.  Knox,  a  note  which  run 
thus  : — 

"  Our  Consistory,  last  evening,  by  a  unanimous  vote, 
suspended  the  operation  of  their  rule,  in  leference  to 
your  application,  and  then,  by  a  Hke  vote,  appropriated 
to  your  use  $10,000,  payable  when  certified  that,  with 
this  amount,  your  indebtedness  shall  be  extinguished. 

"  Under  all  existing  circumstances.no  more  une- 
quivocal, or  earnest  expression  of  kind  sympathy  with 
your  concerns,  could  have  been  given.  Tthas  aftbrded 
me  pleasure  to  promote  this  result,  and  is  now  a 
pleasure  to  communicate  it. 

"  Yours  truly, 

"John  Knox." 

Yes, — Dk.  Knox  was  a  true  friend. 

One  year  from  this  time,  on  the  second  Sabbath  of 
June.  1858,  we  sat  down  at  the  table  of  the  Lord,  with 
thirty-nine  new  members,  thirty-three  of  them  gather- 
ed from  the  world, — two  of  tliat  number  sul)sequently 
became  successful  and  popular  preachers  of  the  (jr().s})el, 
- — and,  on  the  following  Monday  the  mortgage  was 
paid  off,  and  the  church  on  Washington  Square  was 
entirely  free  from  debt.  Do  you  wonder  that  grateful 
hearts  exclaimed,  "  Not  by  might,  nor  by  jjower.  but 
by  my  spirit,  saith  the  Lord"? 

But  the  wonderful  growth  and  prosperity  of  our 
city  were  really  against  us.  In  a  few  years  it  became 
evident  that  we  had  ceased  to  be  in  the  u})per  and 
growing  part  of  the  city,  and  had  become  again  a 
down-town    church.       The    tide    of    emigration    out 


20 

of  us  was  fearful,  and  affords  a  striking  illustration  of 
the  changes  ever  going  on  in  our  busy  population. 
Of  the  two  hundred  and  five  families  who  occupied 
our  pews  in  1858,  there  were  only  twenty-one  who 
had  been  with  us  ten  years  before.  This  depletion 
and  change  increased  steadily,  and  was  gradually  un- 
supplied  by  new  comers.  In  1861  it  was  proposed 
to  start  a  new  enterprise  in  the  upper  portion  of  the 
city,  in  connection  with  the  Church  on  the  Square  ; 
but  the  audience  was  still  so  large  in  the  latter  edifice, 
that  the  plan  was  dropped  as  not  being  necessary. 
The  lapse  of  another  ten  years  clearly  showed  that  a 
mistake  had  been  made,  and  that  now  the  Church  on 
the  Square  had  became  too  feeble  to  move;  especially 
as  it  was  found  on  investigation,  that  it  was  impossible 
to  obtain  suitable  grounds  in  the  upper  portion  of 
the  city,  for  less  than  one  hundred  and  fifty,  or  two 
hundred  thousand  dollars.  It  was  also  found  that,  if 
the  church  were  sold  for  any  other  purpose  than  a 
churchof  our  denomination,  the  Collegiate  Church  had 
in  virtue  of  their  advances  to  us,  a  legitimate  claim 
on  the  property  for  about  $85,000.  It  was  therefore 
decided  that  the  wise,  and  indeed  the  only  right  course 
was,  to  place  the  entire  property  in  the  hands  of  the 
Collegiate  Consistory,  subject  only  to  a  condition  in 
favor  of  its  pastor.  This  was  done  in  1876,  and  the 
church  and  grounds  passed  into  the  possession  of  the 
Greene  St.Methodist Church,  forthe  sum  of  $80,000;— 
and  her  members  are  passing  into  other  communions. 
Her  life  has  been  continued  for  thirty-eight  years. 
During  that  period  she  has  received  within  her  pale, 
and  cheered  upon  their  way  to  the  Church  on  High, 
one  thousand  two  hundred  and  sixteen  souls.  I  have 
no  record  of  her  contributions  to  Church  purposes 
previous  to  1852,  but  since  that  period,  they  have 


21 


amounted  to  more  than  $245,000,  of  which  $90,000 
has  been  for  benevolent  purposes.  She  has  sent  forth 
nine  young  men  into  the  Gospel  ministry.  She  has 
gathered  from  the  world  steadily,  every  year,  an  av- 
erage of  eighteen  or  twenty  souls.  Scarcely  a  com- 
munion season  through  her  whole  existence  has  passed 
in  which  some  sat  not  down  for  the  first  time  at  the 
Table  of  the  Lord.  This  will  surely  be  acknowledged 
to  have  been  "not  by  might,  nor  by  power,  but  by 
the  spirit  "  of  the  Lord.  I  am,  indeed,  most  conscious 
of  my  own  un worthiness  as  her  pastor, — know  of 
many  a  shortcoming;  but,  as  I  look  back  over  her 
history,  recall  the  love  which  ever  surrounded  me, 
the  prayers  which  were  offered  for  me,  the  harmony 
which  was  never  disturbed  for  a  single  hour,  it  is  a 
blessed  memory  for  which  I  can  only  say,  "  Bless  the 
Lord,  0  my  soul ;  and  let  all  that  is  within  me  bless 
his  holy  name."  No  minister  of  Jesus  has  greater 
reason  for  thankfulness. 

I  have  occupied  so  much  more  than  the  time  usu- 
ally given  to  a  sermon,  that  I  cannot  pause  upon  the 
lessons  of  wisdom  which  thi^  history  affords.  I  would 
only  notice. 

First, — The  Debt  of  Gratitude  which  this  City 
OWES  TO  the  Reformed  Church. 

She  brought  here,  and  laid  in  the  very  foundations 
of  the  city,  those  religious  principles  on  which  the 
welfare  of  a  community  so  much  depends  ; — the  old 
Bible  principles,  which  are  often  called  "Calvinistic," 
— (although  a  better  name  would  be  Pauline) — and 
whose  fruits  are  always,  liberty,  morality,  duty  towards 
God  and  man,  happiness  in  this  world  and  the  world 
to  come.  She  planted  the  Sabbath,  the  sanctuary, 
and  the  school-house  here  on  this  island,  before  the 
pilgrim   fathers   came   to   their   aid, — planted  them 


00 


within  the  Ibrt,  and,  as  the  })()piihiti()n  increased, 
forestalled  its  necessity.  At  this  hour,  the  tirowth  of 
the  city  may  be  marked  by  her  church  edifices.  She 
built  Garden  Street  riuurh  Avhen  the  peojde  said,  "it 
is  too  far  up-town.""  Then  she  built  the  Middle 
Church  as  the  city  grew, — then  the  North  Church — 
then  the  Chui'ch  on  Lafayette  Place,  the  people  still 
saying,  "it  is  too  far  up-town."  Then  came  the  Twenty- 
ninth  Street  Church  as  the  people  grew,  and  lately,  the 
Forl^^-eighth  Street  Church, — marks  and  monuments 
of  the  growth  of  the  city,  each  church  an  improve- 
ment in  architectural  beauty,  aud  in  advance  of  the 
population.  She  stands  to-day  along  the  line  of  the 
city's  growth,  holding  forth  the  truths  taught  in  the 
fort  on  the  Battery.  Many  of  her  customs  are  still 
the  pride  and  glory  of  the  city.  The  chains  which  she 
once  planted  across  the  thoroughfares,  to  prevent  the 
violation  of  the  Sabbath  and  the  disturbance  of  di- 
vine worship,  are,  morally,  still  across  our  streets, 
and  manifested  to-day  in  the  habitsof  the  community. 
Yes; — it  may  not  be  recognized  l)y  the  })resent  dwell- 
ers in  our  city,  but  it  is  a  tact,  that  New  York,  in  its 
observance  of  the  Sabbath,  in  its  public-school  system, 
and  in  its  general  moi-ality,  is  much  indebted  to  the 
right  beginning,  and  the  sturdy  devotion  to  religious 
principle,  of  our  Holland  forefathers. 

Second, — The  Debt  ofCtratitude  wiircii  the  Church 
OAVES  TO  God  for  his  continued  and  uniform  ueessfng. 

Her  very  existence,  amid  the  multi})lied  difliculties 
which  have  ever  attended  her  progress,  is  a  sul»ject  tor 
devout  gratitude.  The  possession  of  the  island  by  the 
English,  and  the  establishment  of  a  Court  Church  backed 
by  the  authoiity  of  P]ngland, — the  Holland  language 
in  a  population  increasing  so  rapidly,  and  speaking 
another  tongue,-— all  the  diniculties  and  anti-religious 


23 

influences  connected  with  an  unceasing  tide  of  immi- 
gration, had  to  be  encountered  and  overcome.  And 
when  we  estimate  these  aright,  and  see  where  the 
Church  standsto-day,  and  her  influence,  from  the  dail}- 
Fulton  Street  Prayer-Meeting  all  along  the  city  to 
Forty-Eighth  Street  Church,  must  she  not,  ought 
she  not  say  in  humble  and  adoring  gratitude, 
'■  Not  by  might,  nor  b}^  power,  but  by  Thy  spirit,  oh, 
Lord,  haili  it  been  done"  ?     To  him  be  the  glory ! 

One  further  reflection  and  lesson.  How  should  this 
Reformed  Church  of  ours  be  loved  and  cherished 
by  all  who  have  the  happiness  and  the  honor 
of  being  connected  with  her,  in  this  city. 

It  is  "  The  Church  of  New  York."^ — the  first  planted 
here,  and  whose  influence  for  good  has  been  surpassed 
by  no  other.  It  has  been  said  that  she  is  decreasing, 
— dying  out  I  In  some  aspects  this  may  be  true.  For 
her  children  have  not  always  been  true  to  her,  and 
the  names  which  now  adorn,  and  constitute  the  strength 
and  glory  of  many  of  the  denominations  around  us, 
are  the  names  of  our  Holland  ancestors. 

It  has  also  been  said  that  soon  there  Avill  be  no 
other  Reformed  Church  in  our  city,  but  the  Collegiate 
churches.  It  may  be  so.  But  the  Collegiate  Church 
is  the  Mother-Church.  Oflshoots  have  sprung  up 
and  done  their  work,  and  have  died,  as  has  done 
the  church  on  Washington  Square.  But  has  the  Col- 
legiate Church  with  her  line  running  through  the  city, 
decreased  ?  The  mass  of  her  members  is  not  indeed 
*'  Dutch,'"  for  the  name  has  necessarily  lost  its  signifi- 
cance in  our  day.  But  her  history,  as  connected  with 
this  city,  cannot  die.  It  should  be  regarded  as  an 
honor  to  be  connected  with  her,  by  every  one  who 
glories  in  being  a  New  Yorker. 


24 


One  thought  more.  It  lias  sometimes  been  said 
that  it  is  a  question  whether  it  be  a  real  advantage 
to  have  a  church  endowed.  I  would  reply,  in  view 
of  the  history  of  the  Collegiate  Church,  by  the  sim- 
ple question, — what  legacy,  in  any  age,  has  done  more 
good  to  this  city  and  to  the  cause  of  Christ,  than  that 
gift  of  our  Dutch  ancestors  ?  Their  works  have  followed 
them.  It  has  been  quite  common  for  many  to  find 
fault  with  the  manner  in  which  these  funds  have  been 
used.  I  do  not  say  that  there  have  been  no  mistakes 
made.  But  the  results  of  that  management  show 
both  causes  of  thankfulness  to  God,  and  for  encour- 
agement. Look  at  the  history  before  us.  See  what 
has  been  done  by  the  gift  to  the  Garden  Street  Church 
only  sixty-five  years  ago  !  It  planted  two  of  the  most 
successful  and  useful  churches  in  our  city, — churches 
which  have  won  thousands  from  the  world,  and  united 
them  to  Christ, — which  have  given  thousands  of  dol- 
lars to  the  cause  of  the  Master, — one  of  whom  as  she 
dies,  returns  into  her  treasurj^  $80,000,  and  the  other, 
under  her  historic  name  ''  The  South  Dutch  Church," 
still  flings  to  the  air  the  banner  of  the  cross,  and  is 
moving  on  with  fii-m  and  steady  step  in  her  glorious 
march.  Look  back,  also,  and  see  the  rude  building 
in  the  fort  on  the  battery,  and  then  cast  your  eye 
along  the  line  of  fortifications  she  has  planted  along 
the  line  of  the  growing  city,  up  to  Forty-eighth 
Street,  from  each  of  whicli  the  Gospel  cannon  are  still 
thundering  the  joyful  proclamations  of  redemption, 
and  tell  me, — has  she  not  "held  the  fort"  in  which 
the  Master  planted  her  ?  Call  you  this  dying  out? 
Must  we  not  say,  with  adoring  and  humble  gratitude, 
"Not  by  might,  nor  by  power,  })ut  by  thy  spirit,  0 
Lord  "?     Should  we  not  thank  God,  and  take  coui-age  ? 


BX9517.5.N5W3H9 

Historical  discourse:  a  sermon  relating 

II ni"M,rM,l'.L^f,?I.°?,'^f.'  Semmary-Speer  Library 


1    1012  00043  2411 


